The Early Word
The Early Word: Five MSCS schools may close, but Rhodes is firmly rooted
Council votes down National Guard opposition, Downtown’s gone country and a vacant Midtown dry cleaners is “kleaning” up.
Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
There are 1159 articles by Bianca Phillips :
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September 2025
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The Early WordThe Early Word: MSCS board shakeup and a Central High kazoo rebellion
Something sweet is coming to East Memphis, the Tigers basketball team signs a new player and we look at what it would cost to fix every MSCS school.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: House lizards, business cats and river gators! Oh, my!
Tigers defeat Razorbacks, County Commission may reject the National Guard and “four days of music and mayhem” are coming.
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The To-Do List What’s up: ‘X-Files,’ a fungi fest and ‘Bop Til You Drop’
This week, old movies return to the big screen, a plant pop-up pops up at another pop-up and two Downtown hotels host DJ events.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: When will the guard get here? What’s brewing near Broad?
FedEx shares good news, Brandon Clarke gets tackled by children and we have a tip for how to ward off vampires.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Leaders oppose guard plans, and we remember Les Smith
Cats and coffee are coming to Southaven (yes, together), Collierville may max out on liquor stores and we also remember late businessman Walker Uhlhorn.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: More on the National Guard; Midtown’s Parkview is back
Midtown Chick-fil-A is back, Arlington traffic may improve in a roundabout way and Thursday is for throwback movies.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Guard will be under Lee’s control; Tops catches fire — again
City questions legality of its employee unions, Good Fortune learns its game-show fortune and Wiseacre OG gets in the sandwich game.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Could National Guard come here? Plus, bar fixes a mis-steak
Mason ICE facility is detaining immigrants, Demetrius Haley is free from prison and the University of Memphis goes over the “enrollment cliff.”
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The Early WordThe Early Word: National Guard is coming, and so are MPD demotions
Food truck puts greens on a grilled cheese, the Tigers football team is undefeated and we take a trip down memory lane to the “beach within reach.”
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Metro The AM/DM podcast: B.B. King and The Daily Memphian have birthdays
In this episode of The AM/DM, newsletter editor Bianca Phillips and columnist Chris Herrington talk about the week ahead, which includes The Daily Memphian’s upcoming anniversary.
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The To-Do List Cooper-Young Fest, Pride Fest (again) and the co-creator of the Ninja Turtles
This week, Southaven launches its hummingbird fest, the Halloran Centre celebrates 10 years and Beale Street throws a 100th birthday party for B.B. King.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Speed cameras lack teeth, but IShowSpeed says we’re ‘lit’
Ghost Mob members face new charges, Trap Fusion is launching a ghost kitchen and it’s game off for a Germantown sportsplex.
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Podcasts The AM/DM podcast: The ’90s are alive in Memphis this weekend
In this episode of The AM/DM, newsletter editor Bianca Phillips and digital producer Kelsey Bowen talk about the weekend ahead, which is ripe with events that hearken back to the dot-com era.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Crime is way down, and SweatHouz is hot (then it’s cold)
City trust takes control of MATA’s money, Firestone won’t be the site for a new jail and DeAndre Brown gives up on gun rights — for now.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Harris is done with ethics board; Bayer may have a buyer
Southaven band’s money is stolen, The Archives is revived and Riverside Drive is changing again.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: New Nichols trial will be different; a Wing Guru flies the coop
A viral disease is on the rise in Memphis schools, a judge recuses herself and we explain why Memphians are rooting for a football team from 700-plus miles away.
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The To-Do List Smash Mouth is at the zoo, ZZ Top is at the Garden and the brat pack is back
This week, art meets booze at the Dixon and the Brooks, and weenie dogs race at the Germantown Festival.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Germantown trees are cut down, and free zoo days are longer
A former sheriff has died, Olive Branch cuts off The Daily Memphian’s access and a beloved Midtown Vietnamese restaurant has new owners.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: New library honors Liza, and we find the best baked taters
Court ruling may allow kids to carry guns, a South Korean company is going big in South Memphis and Cooper-Young is getting fancy new apartments.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Maybe we don’t need a new 201, and locals celebrate the 901
Most of the MATA board quits, charges are upgraded in pastor Ricky Floyd’s death and we dish on the morning life hacks of prominent Memphians.
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August 2025
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The To-Do List Shinedown comes home, opera is everyday and Project Pat is on Beale
This week, the sun sets on the Sunset Skate series, the Delta Fair brings thrills (and a lot more) and Slider Inn goes “Back to the Future.”
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Why Judge Norris recused himself; Bartlett grocery clues
U of M students protest anti-DEI moves, Carrefour is finally coming down and Filipino food is popping up on South Main.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: County director goes back to jail; Bartlett’s picky on grocers
FedEx lays off hundreds, the city spills the tea on the MATA CEO search and Lakeland Cracker Barrel fans rejoice.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Very Visible sale and a call to investigate MPD’s crime stats
MSCS started the year without enough teachers, students protest xAI’s offer to fix schools and the Grindfather gets his flowers.
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